[ there's some easing of tension in his chest to know that ford is worried about messing it up. he knows both of them have issues that wouldn't make this a walk in the park - but jack wants to try, which is more than he's wanted in a while with anything else. ]

Yeah. If something can mess up the Pokemon equivalent of a god or whatever... [ he gestures with one hand to the outside. could be bad, could get much worse. they're both paranoid enough to understand the implication of something bad happening and things left unsaid.

jack gives ford a little crooked smile. ]

I trust you too, which I usually make a point of not doing so. So you're special that way. [ some humor in this situation, sure. ]

I'm open to that too. I'd like to see where it goes, because ... ah, hell. It's been a while since I've trusted someone enough to let them in, Ford. The last guy I wasn't even dating and he tried to blow me up.

[ so you know that's where they are. ]

But I still want to try. I wanna hear more about your research when we're running and do more camping trips, and wake up to Jo trying to be your hat.

[ he smiles. ]